Apparatus for wrapping a package

Abstract

Apparatus for tightly wrapping a package such as disposed on a pallet in a thin film such as for shipping or storage includes a rotating deck adapted to receive the pallet and package to be wrapped. The deck is directly coupled to and supported by a gear box driven by an electric motor. The apparatus further includes a film wrap supply in the form of a roll which lets out the film for wrapping around the package as the deck and package rotate. A manually adjustable tensioner allows for adjusting the stretch of the wrapping film on the package, while the film wrap supply may be adjusted vertically to permit wrapping the package over its entire vertical dimension regardless of the width of the roll of film wrap. A foot control allows an operator of the apparatus to rotate the deck and the package being wrapped while vertically moving the film wrap supply roll to fully enclose the package within the wrapping film.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for wrapping a package in a thin film, said apparatus comprising: a base;   a generally flat deck disposed on said base for supporting the package;   a motor and transmission combination mounted to said base and directly coupled to a lower, center portion of said deck for rotationally displacing said deck and a package thereon about a generally vertical axis, wherein said motor and transmission combination includes a threaded input shaft coupled to a toothed sprocket, and wherein said threaded input shaft and said toothed sprocket form a worm gear, said worm gear providing a braking function for bringing said rotating deck to a stop when said motor and transmission combination no longer rotationally displaces said deck; a wrapping film roll dispenser;   a support column attached to said base;   a moveable carriage coupled to said support column and attached to said film roll dispenser for supporting and allowing for vertical displacement of said film roll dispenser as the film is wrapped around a rotating package disposed on said deck to permit the film to be wrapped around the entire package;     a rack attached to said support column and a spur gear affixed to said carriage and engaging said rack for displacing said carriage in a linear manner along said support column when said spur gear is rotated;   a crank coupled to said spur gear for rotationally displacing said spur gear;   means for locking said crank in a fixed portion to prevent displacement of said carriage and said film dispenser on said support column, said means for locking said crank including a pin attached to said crank and a sprocket fixedly mounted to said carriage, and wherein said crank is moveable between a first position wherein said pin engages said sprocket for preventing displacement of said carriage and a second position wherein said pin is displaced from said sprocket to permit rotation of said crank and displacement of said carriage and film dispenser on said support column;   tensioning means coupled to said dispenser for supporting said dispenser and for varying the stretch of the film as the film is wrapped around the package, said tensioning means including a threaded support shaft inserted through a roll of the film and adapted for tightening for increasing the stretch of the film; and   foot operated control means coupled to said motor and transmission combination for controlling rotation of said deck and a package disposed thereon.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for urging said crank to said first position for preventing displacement of said carriage on said support column. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for urging said crank to said first position includes a spring. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tensioning means further includes upper and lower washers disposed about said support shaft and respectively engaging upper and lower ends of the roll of film.